Essay: THOUSAND TIMES, NOTHING HAPPENED...

Modern transport eyes make a lot of things just better !!!

Dipl.-Ing. Reinhard Smetz

If you are at a trade fair, it is possible to come across a lot of “improved” transport lifting procedures. Regardless of which country or which product is promoted, all presentations are nearly all the same. Many times these presentations used at these trade shows are often the same in the manufacturers’ works. The drawback is that too often incorrect lifting points are used, or the lifting point is not used correctly, which can result in loss of production time and can also increase the chance of accidents. The main causes for this drawback are the missing and/or faulty hangings. The correct name in the technical language is “lifting point”. Most constructing engineers do not observe with their instructions that there must be a suitable lifting point for every element with a single weight of more than 20 kg. This is strongly regulated by the European Machinery Directive. It is too less observed that, due to the installation of modern lifting points right from the start, the purchase prices could amortize very fast.

Picture 1 shows the most used eye bolts DIN-580. These ones fulfill in no way the requirements for such working conditions. The common DIN-580 eyebolt is only to be lifted in the screwing direction or with a maximum inclination angle of 45°.The norm, however, allows a loading up to an inclination angle of 60°, therefore the eye bolts are not suitable. This is demonstrated more critical when turning and rotating the load or when the eye bolts are charged 90° in screwing direction. Also this loading is not allowed, but the one who transports the goods must do it although it is forbidden.

Picture 2 shows lifting points which are often used with tool making and mold making. These do also not correspond to modern hangings as charging in any direction with 4 times proofed safety. Anybody who ever has done this lifting procedure knows that for only one person it is nearly impossible to fix up the lifting means. Turning/ erecting of the load securing on a transport vehicle with such hangings is impossible and potentially disastrous.

Picture 3 shows an ideal lashing point on the transport cart and a high valued lashing mean but, due to the missing possibilities the hook must be, although interdicted, hooked in undefined openings of the machine which must be secured. When regarding this picture, it is a mystery how it was possible to lift this machine on the special vehicle without a forklift truck.

Picture 4, 5, 6 do not answer to the question how it is possible to use the lifting means in a safe way and turn and rotate the tools and machines. The solution for load securing and safety is unsatisfactorily answered by these inadequate lifting means.

Selfmade constructions Picture 7, 8 are rarely suitable to don the lifting means safely and to carry out the lifting procedure.



Requirements to the modern lifting points:

• no unintentional hooking out of the lifting means
• design factor of 4:1 in any direction
• clear indications of WLL
• highly-visible colors
• universal connector with different lifting means like for example hooks, eyes, round slings, and so on – without any tools like shackles
• ability to turn without jerking under full load
• the machine or the lifting mean is not destroyed during turning or moving
• smallest thread; when using lifting points for welding: can be welded on the smallest place without pre-treatment

Currently, the demands are fulfilled by only one lifting point series. For 25 years, the company RUD (RUD is good) has continued to strive to develop safer suspensions. RUD delivers 260 different types of tested lifting points; 200 are for bolting and 60 for welding.
The newest RUD development is the PowerPoint Generation. The Power-Point Star fulfills the demands of the universal connection, and with its cardan-joint, the robust pink hook has the ability to pivot in any direction. Therefore every lifting mean can be attached very quickly and in a safe way. The higher distance of the floating axle enables a turning of the machine components, also under 90° in screwing direction, without destroying the machine or the lifting mean. Also in this position, the double ball bearing guarantees a turning without jerking under full load.
To say it in one sentence:"One for everything".

With modern lifting points – save costs!
With a smaller thread size than the standard DIN-580 eye bolts and without the need for any additional lifting mean, these modern lifting points pay for themselves quickly. The aspect of the design is important and should not being forgotten by the constructing engineer because the appearance of the machine is also an interesting aspect of sales (the DIN-580 eye bolts are 200 years old and became obsolete).

Picture 9 shows the universal solution PowerPoint-Star and compared with picture 1 it can be seen that there is no need to connect an additional element like a shackle. Furthermore the ball bearing automatically prevents the forbidden twisting of the lifting means. Even under full load, the PowerPoint can be turned in a 90° position from the bolt center line, which is forbidden with the DIN-580 eye bolt.

Picture 10shows how it is possible to carry out safely the transport with a forklift truck. Furthermore this picture shows the PowerPoint-Star for welding which can be welded in 2-3 minutes on any steel construction without the need to assemble the complex plated bolt, the bolt securing and additional swivel hook varieties. This is also guaranteed when there is in any direction.To say it in one sentence, the DIN-eye bolts and self-made constructions are not safe enough as lifting means and due to the use of modern lifting points the purchase costs can amortize very fast. The security in the whole Production-Logistics chain and the considerable idle times for the transport handling will be optimized.